Every year in Cyprus, hundreds of thousands of songbirds are killed illegally and sold as a local delicacy. Poachers often attack activists trying to save the birds. DW tagged along with Andrea Rutigliano of the Committee Against Bird Slaughter, to one of the bird trapping sites.
Amid the serenelandscapes of Cyprus, a brutal conflict unfolds every autumn between activists and poachers over the fate of migratory birds. A dish considered a local delicacy consisting of grilled or fried blackcap, called"ambelopoulia" in Greek, makes illegal bird trapping a lucrative business.
Andrea Rutigliano, of the Committee Against Bird Slaughter, is one of the activists who face relentless threats while strivingto end the illegal bird-trapping.
However, despite efforts to curb this practice, bird poaching persists, entwined with local tradition and organized crime. As tensions rise, technological advancements and legislative changes promise hope — but only if political will aligns with action.